The 2025 Chief Financial Officers Conference (CACFO) brought together Africa’s leading finance executives, policymakers, and economic thinkers at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra to deliberate on the future of finance under the theme “Profit, Risk, and Scalability”.
The high-level dialogue centred on the dynamic role of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in steering African corporations through global financial shifts, technological change, and sustainability challenges.
In his opening address, Prof. Kofi Abotsi, Esq., Conference Chair for CACFO, emphasized the need for Africa’s financial leaders to reimagine their operational frameworks in a rapidly transforming global economy.
“The motivation behind this conference is to foster awareness of the operational context of today’s CFOs and how the African corporation should operate on a new basis in the fast-evolving world today,”
he stated, urging finance executives to embrace boldness and innovation in their decision-making.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Seth Terkper, Presidential Advisor on the Economy and Chairperson of the CACFO Advisory Board, highlighted the central role of CFOs in achieving organisational resilience across African markets.
He noted that fiscal reforms, governance improvements, and anti-corruption measures are key to revitalising Ghana’s business sector.
“The role of CFOs in navigating the complex tax environment of African markets is critical. Organisations must strategically adapt to evolving tax measures, focusing on compliance, efficiency, and revenue generation amidst shifting policy landscapes.” Hon. Terkper asserted.
He further advised financial leaders to leverage new revenue opportunities and align their strategies with broader infrastructure development goals to ensure sustainable growth.
Adding a continental trade perspective, Hon. Sylvester Mensah, CEO of Ghana EximBank, underscored the transformative potential of digital infrastructure and regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The mission of EximBank is to position Ghana as a key player in intra-African trade and the global export market,” he said.
Bringing a global lens to the discussion, Mohammed Nasheed, Former President of the Maldives and Secretary-General of CFV-20, addressed the pressing issue of climate change and its economic implications for Africa.
He cautioned that, although the continent contributes only about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it bears a disproportionate share of the impact, including devastating floods in West Africa and worsening desertification in the Sahara.
“Africa has the potential to play a major role in global climate efforts,” former President Nasheed asserted. “If we do not take care of the lungs of the planet, this Mother Earth is not going to survive.”
The 2025 CFO Conference concluded with a renewed call for financial leadership anchored in innovation, sustainability, and collaboration — principles deemed vital for Africa’s competitiveness in an increasingly volatile global economy.
